page_title: Märkischer Kreis
section_title: Politics and administration
hierarchical_section_title: Märkischer Kreis / Politics and administration
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Burg Altena
context_page_description: The Märkischer Kreis is a district in central North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighbouring districts are Unna, Soest, Hochsauerland, Olpe, Oberbergischer Kreis, Ennepe-Ruhr, and the city of Hagen.
context_section_description: The district is led by a Landrat. Originally the Landrat was only a representative post, while the Oberkreisdirektor was the head of the administration; however, since 1999 the two posts have been unified. The headquarters of the administration of the county are located in Lüdenscheid, but there are county halls with parts of the administration in Iserlohn and Altena, too. The police headquarters of the county are in Iserlohn.
  The county council meets in the county hall in Iserlohn. Its last election was on September 26, 2004.
caption: Castle in Altena
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